As I write this the recount of the vote for president in the state I live, Florida, continues, with Gore trailing Bush by about 200 votes out of 6 million or so cast. There were 6,000 polling stations in the state, so in essence, Bush only beat Gore (so far) by 1 vote per 30 polling stations. There is no better illustration of how your vote can and does count, and I am grateful that I took the time (no more than 15 minutes) to vote. Iowa was also pivotal in the closing hours; perhaps Gore’s last-minute stop at Iowa State paid off. I urge all students to consider how close this election was when the next time to vote comes.

John Thielges

Alumnus

West Palm Beach, Fla.